Activities for Bored Kids
Are your kids complaining about being bored? As the school year winds up and summer approaches, children everywhere get restless. That’s why it’s always a good idea to list activities for bored kids.
I’ve been a mom for over 30 years now. And while each of our children has different likes, dislikes, and interests, they’ve all been bored at one time or another. And that’s okay. I believe boredom can lead to curiosity and creative thinking.
However, it can also lead to mischievous behavior.
So here I am, sharing 50 activities to keep kids entertained. From indoor games and crafts to outdoor activities and educational video games, there’s something for everyone.
So get started on keeping your kids busy and happy!
Fun Indoor Activities for Kids
Whether the dog days of summer or rainy days, when your entire family is stuck in the living room for hours, it’s important to find a fun way (or a few) to pass the time.
Maybe you’re looking for some new fun, free activities. Or, if you’re like me, you’re looking for an alternative to too much screen time.
Here are several ideas and activities for bored kids to try indoors. These include some of our favorite rainy day activities.
Coloring Pages and Books
This is a great idea for younger kids. Get a new coloring book or two and crayons or coloring pencils, and let them go to town.
Or take a look at the many free online printables available online. This is a great way to help celebrate different summer holidays.
For example, grab 40 free Memorial Day coloring sheets. Then take a look at Father’s Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day coloring pages too.
If you have younger children, gently introduce language arts lessons with a few fun free sight word coloring pages.
Play Dough
Play Dough is perfect for when kids are bored because they can create anything they can imagine. Buy sets with various colors and tools, or just use some kitchen supplies to make your own.
Board Games
Do you love family games night too?
We started this last year as part of our screen free days.
We set aside two days each week for family screen free activities. Board games are a classic pastime for kids. Choose from a classic board game like Monopoly, Candy Land, or Chutes and Ladders, or try something new. It’s fun to enjoy with an older family member, too.
And by the way, board games are one of many things to do when bored at home as an adult too.
Puzzles and Memory Games
Puzzles are another great way to keep kids occupied for a while. Choose puzzles with different difficulty levels. Or get a jigsaw puzzle with a theme, like animals, cars, or flowers.
Memory games help family members of all ages exercise their brains. Use a simple deck of cards and arrange them face down. Each player flips over two at a time, trying to make a match.
Look online for other variations of memory games to try at home.
Building Blocks
Whether it’s Legos, Lincoln Logs, or simple blocks, building towers, and houses is always enjoyable for a young child. Not to mention older children and adults too.
Scavenger Hunts
This is a great activity to do indoors or outdoors.
Write down a list of items for the kids to find and set a time limit. Or change it up and make it a treasure hunt with a new puzzle, book, or small toy at the end.
Arts and Crafts
From coloring to making jewelry, arts and crafts offer endless possibilities for creative expression and creative activities. You can find ideas online or in magazines or create your own designs.
One of the things our kids loved were STEM activities masquerading as arts and crafts. Hands-on, but also teaching important science, tech, engineering and math activities.
Get your creative juices flowing by using common household items (like a toilet paper roll, cardboard boxes, and masking tape) and a piece of paper to craft new fun things.
Modeling Clay
Similar to play dough, modeling clay can be used to create anything kids can imagine. There are also many different colors and styles available so they can create unique designs.
Kitchen Fun and Baking
Kids love helping in the kitchen. So why not bake cookies? Or try your hand at air fryer pies or hot cocoa bombs?
Let them gather the bowls, measuring spoons, etc. Then help them with measuring or stirring. Just make sure they’re supervised at all times when using knives or other sharp objects.
Dance Party
If you have enough indoor space, try a dance party – so much fun! The best part is getting active with your kids. This works well with older children.
Best Board Games for Kids Ages 4 through 13
There are a lot of great board games out there for kids of all ages, but the ones listed below are specifically designed for kids aged four through 13 years old. These games are educational, engaging, and, most importantly, fun!
There are many great board games for kids available today. Some of the best board games for kids ages four through 13 include classics like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, and Connect Four.
These games are perfect for younger children because they are relatively simple and involve a lot of luck rather than strategy.
If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging for older kids, consider games like Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, or Pandemic.
These games can be quite complex but offer a lot of replay value. They’re also great for teaching kids about history, geography, and strategy.
Best Board Games
Here’s a quick list of board games to add to your ultimate list of activities for bored kids.
- Checkers
- Chinese Checkers
- Connect 4
- Battleship
- Sorry!
- Candy Land
- Chutes and Ladders
- Mouse Trap
- Operation
- The Game of Life
Summer Activities for When Kids Are Bored
Swimming
Swimming is a great summer activity that keeps kids cool and active at the same time. If you don’t have access to a pool, visit your nearest beach or lake instead.
In fact, even your bathtub can do in a pinch when your children are small. Use these bath activities for toddlers to get started, and adapt them for your preschool and kindergarten children.
Water Balloon Fight
This is another great way to cool off during summer days spent indoors. All you need is water balloons and an open area to battle it out.
Sidewalk Chalk
Draw on the driveway, sidewalks, garage door, or anywhere else that’s legal (and easily cleaned up ).
Ice Cream Party
Invite friends for some ice cream, shaved ice, popsicles, etc. Let the party games begin!
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Send the kids on an outdoor nature scavenger hunt around the neighborhood, looking for treasures like leaves, rocks, insects, etc.
Family Bike Ride
Take a bike ride around town or through the park – just be sure everyone wears their helmets!
Summer Yummy Treats
Make homemade popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, smoothies, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Field Trip
Load up the car with snacks and drinks and explore new places – you never know what you might find!
Visit a Local Museum
This is another good way to spend a rainy day or hot summer day. Many museums offer free admission days or discounted rates for families.
Attend a Play
Check out what’s playing at your local theater or children’s theater company. You might be surprised at how much your kids will enjoy it!
Go to the Zoo
This is a classic activity perfect for kids of all ages. Visit your local zoo or wildlife preserve and learn about all the different animals.
Take a Hike
Get out in nature and explore all the beauty around you. This is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air and a good time to make memories.
Have a Picnic
Pack some sandwiches and head to the park for a picnic lunch.
A picnic is a great activity for families or groups of friends. We like to load up our favorite books for an afternoon of outdoor reading.
Make and Fly a Kite
This is a fun activity that can be done in your backyard or at the park. Just be sure to watch out for trees and power lines!
Play Frisbee
This is a great game for family or friends. You can also get creative and play other games like frisbee golf or frisbee ultimate.
You might also like…
- Labor Day Activities for Kids (+ Community Workers Crafts)
- Summer Homeschool Ideas for Working Moms)
- Easy Low-Tech STEAM Ideas for Kids
Best Educational Kids Video Games to Beat Summer Boredom
If your kids are looking for something to do when they’re bored in the summer, consider letting them play some educational video games. There are many great options available, ranging from simple puzzle games to more complex titles that teach kids about history or science.
One of our favorites is The Oregon Trail: American Settler Edition, which teaches kids about all aspects of early American life.
Another great title is Civilization V, which lets players take control of entire civilizations and guide them through thousands of years of history. In fact, I remember this from when I was young.
There are also plenty of other great options available, so check out your local gaming store or online retailers like Amazon or Steam.
Free Printable Boredom Busters Posters Pack
Simple Kids Craft Activities
Fall is a great time to get creative with your kids!
Honestly, once homeschool school starts back up, it can be tough to find time for fun craft activities with the kids. However, there are a few simple crafts that you can do with your children that don’t require a lot of time or preparation.
Below are some simple craft activities that are perfect for early fall. Your kids will love making these crafts and have fun displaying them around the house.
Make leaf rubbings using crayons and leaves from your backyard.
Create paper butterflies by folding colorful strips of paper accordion-style and taping the ends together.
Do you have any old socks? Try making sock puppets! Then put on a favorite song and hold a concert.
Use fingerprint and newsprint or craft paper to make handprint art. Save this post to find future handprint art freebies. They are in the works. I’ll post a link as soon as they’re ready!
Finally, you could make salt dough sculptures by combining flour, salt, and water until it forms a doughy consistency.
Then have your children use cookie cutters to create various shapes before baking them in the oven.
You might also like…
- Labor Day Activities for Kids (+ Community Workers Crafts)
- Summer Homeschool Ideas for Working Moms)
- Easy Low-Tech STEAM Ideas for Kids
More Outdoor Activities for Bored Kids
If you’re looking for some fun outdoor activities to keep your kids occupied, here are a few ideas.
- Build a fort out of blankets and chairs in your backyard.
- Play tag or hopscotch using chalk on your driveway or sidewalk.
- Make homemade popsicles by freezing juice in ice cube trays then inserting popsicle sticks after they’ve frozen solid.
- Visit a nearby park with a playground, wading pool, or pond filled with fish or turtles.
When the weather is nice, there’s no better place to be than outdoors!
Luckily, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities that can keep kids entertained for hours on end. From exploring nature to playing sports, if your kids say they’re bored, we’ve got you covered.
